Cosmetic holder



Jan. 20, 1953 w. B. CRANE 2,626,047

cosMETIc HOLDER Filed May 5, 1948 2 SHEETSi-SHEET 1 Jan. 20, 1953 w. B.CRANE 2,626,047

cosMETrc HOLDER Filed May s, 1948 2' SHEETS- SHEET 2 f Il Patented Jan.20, 1953 COSMETIC HOLDER Walton B. Crane, Beverly Hills, Calif.,assignor to Max Factor & Co., Hollywood, Calif., a corporation ofDelaware Application May 3, 1948, Serial No. 24,874

Claims.

This invention relates to cosmetic holders or dispensers and isparticularly adapted for use in connection with creams, pastes, andother cosmetic preparations.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved form ofholder having a rotary actuator member adapted to advance a noncircularcosmetic carrier within a casing.

Another object is to provide a dispenser for creams, pastes and the likeof relatively low consistency or of tacky or sticky nature.

Another object is to provide a cosmetic holder or dispenser of this typehaving a plurality of nested sleeves of novel type and of relativelyshort length cooperating to produce arelatively long travel for thecosmetic carrier.

Another object is to provide a novel form of advancing mechanism for acosmetic carrier employing cooperating sleeve assemblies, each includinga longitudinally split cam sleeve enclosed within an encircling tubularshell.

Another object is to provide rotary driven advancing mechanism for acosmetic carrier which is well adapted to economical production inquantity and which is rugged in design and not apt to get out of order.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cosmetic holder or dispenser embodyinga preferred form of my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device showing the cover removed.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation showing the cover in place.

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the lines 4-4as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation partly broken away taken substantiallyon the lines 5-5 as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a, plan view partly in section taken substantially on thelines 6 6 as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a perspective view partly broken away showing the advancingand retracting mechanism in extended position.

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the individual parts ofthe advancing and retracting mechanism.

Figure 9 is a plan view of one of the cam sleeves before being rolledinto cylindrical form.

Referring to the drawings, the base |0 includes a lower housing portionI I and an upwardly extending noncircular tube or casing |2. A cover I3is provided with a noncircular bore 4 adapted to receive the casing |2in telescopic relation. The bore I4 is preferably longer than the casingl2 in order to provide a clearance space I5 between the upper end I5 ofthe casing I2 and the end wall I1 within the cover I3. When the cover isin position on the casing l2 the lower end |8 of the cover is adapted torest on the shoulder I9 at the junction of the casing |2 and housingportion of the base I0. A paste or cream ller element 20 is adapted to tin sliding relation within the noncircular bore 2| in the casing I2, andits lower end 22 is reduced in size to t within the carrier 23. Thefiller element 20 preferably rits closely within the bore 2| and mayhave little or no clearance with respect thereto.

The carrier 23 is provided with a continuous upwardly extending wall 24adapted to encircle the lower end 22 of the iiller element 20, and apair of tabs 25 cut from the Wall 24 may be delected inwardly to preventdisassembly of the filler element 2u from the carrier 23. The bottomwall 26 of the carrier 23 is provided with a central angularly shapedaperture 21 adapted to receive the upward tubular knob 28 provided onthe carrier extension or tubular post 23. The post 29 is connected tothe carrier 23 by inserting the knob 28 through the aperture 21 and thendeforming it as shown in Figure 5 at 28a, thereby forming a rigidconnection between the carrier 23 and the postl 29. These parts thenfunction as a single integral unit. The carrier 23 is adapted to slidevertically within the bore 2| of the casing I2, but relative rotarymotion is prevented because the parts are noncircularin cross section.

The housing portion of the base |0 is provided with a centralcylindrical bore 30 and an axially aligned cylindrical counterbore 3|.The counterbore 3| is of greater diameter than the width of the base I0,and accordingly the counterbore 3| is not continuous but is interruptedby lateral windows 32 as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 6. The carrierextension or tubular post 23 extends downwardly through the bore 30 andinto the counterbore 3| when the carrier 23 is in its retractedposition.

Means are provided for advancing and retracting the carrier 23 withinthe bore 2| of the casing I2, and as shown in the drawings this meansincludes a plurality of concentric sleeve assemblies 33 and 34encircling the carrier extension 29. The inner sleeve assembly 33comprises a cam sleeve 35 split longitudinally at 36 and provided with ahelical groove 31. The assembly 33 .also

includes the shell 38 which is tubular in form and adapted to enclosethe cam sleeve 35. A lateral projection or cam follower 39 formed on thetubular post or carrier extension 29 extends outwardly into the helicalcam groove 31 provided on the split sleeve 35. A boss 40 extendingoutwardly from the split sleeve 35 vis adapted to be received within therecess 4| provided in the wall of the tubular enclosing shell 38. A slot42 may be provided which extends from the upper end of the shell 39 tothe recess 4| in order to facilitate assembly of the split sleeve 35within the enclosing shell 38. When thus assembled the split sleeve 35and enclosing shell 38 function as an integral sleeve member.

In like fashion the outer sleeve assembly 34 comprises a cam sleeve 43vertically split as shown at 44 and provided with a helical cam groove45. A lateral projection or cam follower 6| provided on the enclosingshell 33 extends into the helical groove 45. An enclosing shell 46Whichis-tubular in form is adapted to encircle the split-sleeve 43 andto be connected therewith by means of the recess 41 which receives theboss 48 on the split sleeve 43. Assembly of the split sleeve -43-intothe enclosing shell 46 is facilitated by means ofthe slot 49 extendingfrom the upper endiof the shell 46 tothe recess 41. A laterallyextending flange 50 on the upper end of the shell 46 lsadapted to reston the shelf 5| provided at the lower end of the bore 2| of the casing|2. An actuator knob 52 is provided with a central opening 53 adapted toyreceive the shell 46 tightly therein. Friction-lips 54 may be providedon the shell 46-and extend outwardly therefrom to' increase thefrictional grip between the bore 53 and shell 46. When thus assembledthe actuator knob 52, shell 46 and split cam sleeve 43 function as asingle integral sleeve member.

"The knob 52 is rotatable within the counterbore 3|, andportions of itsfluted periphery 55 are accessible through the lateral windows 32 in thehousing portion of the base |0. The upper surface'- 56 of the knob 52rests against the downwardly 'facing` abutment 51 on the housing portionof the base I6. Downward movement of the knob 52 is prevented by thefrictional contact with the enclosing shell 46, and upward movement ofthe knob 52 is prevented by contact with the-abutment 51. The housingportion which partially encloses the knob 52 prevents lateral forcesapplied to the knob from imposing objectionablel bending stresses on thecylindrical shell 46. The knob is prevented from moving laterally by itscontact with the recess or counterbore 3|. Each of the split cam sleeves35 and 43 is-preferably formed from a Aflat sheet as indicated-at 58.The Ysheet'may be formed of any suitable material such as, for example,metal and may be punched to form the slot 59 and dimple 60. It will beobserved that the slot 59 is closed at'both ends. The sheet may be thenrolled into a-cylinder to form rthe cam sleeve 35 or 43, the slot 59becoming a helical cam groove and the dimpler fforming anexternally-protruding boss. In oper-ation the mechanism for advancingand retracting the carrier 23 within the noncircular bore2-| operates asfollows: The actuator knob 52 maybe rotated by means of the usersfingers which may Contact the fluted periphery 55 through the ports orwindows 32. Rotation of the actuator knob 52 causes rotation of theouter sleeve assembly 34, the enclosing shell 46 and split earn sleeve43 rotating with the knob 52 as a unit. Rotation of the split cam.sleeve Y43 effects vertical travel of the tubular post 29 and carrier23. Since the carrier 23 slidably engages the noncircular bore 2|rotation of the carrier 23 and extension 29 cannot occur, andaccordingly, rotation of the knob 52 causes one of the cam followers 39or 6|, or both, to travel in their respective cam grooves 31 and 45.

VFriction characteristics of the cam followers 6| and 39 and cam grooves45 and 31 determine which of the sleeve assemblies 34 or 33 rotate orwhether both rotate simultaneously, but in any event the post 29 andcarrier 23 move upwardly within the bore 2|.` vAssuming that the innersleeve assembly 33 does not rotate with the initial rotation of the knob52, the cam follower 6| is caused to move upwardly along the helicalslot y45 in the camv sleeve 43 as the latter rotates with the knob k52.When the cam follower 6| reaches the end of the helical groove 45 theshell 38 and split cam sleeve 35 are caused to rotate. The cam follower39 on the tubular post 29 then rides upwardly in the helical cam groove31 in the split cam sleeve 35. The upper limit of movement is reachedwhen the cam followers 6| and 39 arrive at the upper ends of theirrespective helical cam grooves.

The carrier 23 is retracted downwardly within the noncircular bore 2|upon rotation of the actuator knob 52 in the opposite direction. In suchevent the cam followers 39 and 6| travel downwardly withinl theirrespective cam grooves until the inner and outer sleeve assemblies 33and 34 are fully retracted as shown in Figure 5. Since the helical camgrooves 31and 45 are usually enclosed by an encircling shell 38 and 46respectively, the cam followers 6| and 39 are separated by solid Wallsand thereby any possible interference is avoided. The provision of thelips 25 on the carrier 23 serves to effect retraction of the llerelement 20 within the noncircular bore 2| and avoids the possibility ofrelative sliding movement between the carrier 23 and filler 29.

It is contemplated that the filler element 20 may comprise a cosmeticcream or paste suitable for application to the skin of the user to serveas a foundation for other cosmetic preparations such as powder or rouge.The user may dip her fingers into the cosmetic paste and then apply itto several locations on the skin, blending it out in the usual fashion.The oval or generally elliptical shape of the noncircular bore 2|facilitates easy access of the fingers to the cosmetic paste 20. Suchpaste may be of relatively low melting point and may therefore be tackyor sticky. The noncircular bore 2| and carrier 23 serve to preventrotation of the ller element 2i! within the casing I2 and hence noclearance is necessary between the filler element 29 and the bore 2|.Accordingly, a more stable support is provided for the filler element 29than if such clearance were necessary in order to accommodate therelative rotary movement. This additional supporting effect isparticularly useful for sticky or tacky pastes and creams.

It will be noted that the construction of the casing I2 and carrier 231sfree from grooves, pins",- slots, etc., and that leakage or plastic iiowof 4cosmetic cream into the advancing mechanism is effectivelyprevented. It will be observed also that the total travel of the carrier23 is substantially greater than the overall length of the nestingsleeves constituting the advancing mechyanism. Thus when the carrier 23is in its fully extended position the upper edge thereof assumes theposition indicated by the dashed lineA 62 `in Figure 5. It is recognizedthat a greater number of interfltting sleeve assemblies may be employedif desired in order to increase the total travel of the carrier 23 or todecrease the overall length of the sleeve assemblies. Thus while onlytwo sleeve assemblies 33 and 34 are shown in the drawing, it is possibleto use three or four such assemblies if desired. The full 'amount oftravel made available by Iany one particular cam sleeve is accomplishedby turning the actuator knob through an angular travel somewhat lessthan a full revolution. By employing two, three, four or more camsleeves the knob m-ay be rotated through any desired number ofrevolutions to correspond with the desired travel of the carrier.

While any suitable or desirable materials for the cosmetic holder andadvancing mechanism may be employed, I have found that plastic materialssuch as, for example, polystyrene are well suited for the base l0, coverI3 and knob 52, whereas the carrier 23, tubular post 29 and sleeveassemblies 33 and 34 are preferably formed cf thin gage metal such as,for example, steel.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I donot wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my inventionis of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a dispenser for creams, pastes Vand the like, the combination of abase provided with a noncircular bore open at its upper end; a carriermounted for axial sliding movement within the bore and shaped to conformthereto; advancing means for sliding the carrier axially of said bore,said advancing means including la cylindrical extension on the carrier;a plurality of telescoping sleeve assemblies mounted coaxially of thecarrier extension; helical screw means connecting adjacent sleeveassemblies in rotatable relation and connecting the innermost sleeveassembly to said carrier extension; and means for rotating the outermostsleeve assembly, each of said sleeve assemblies including an axiallysplit sleeve having 'a helical cam groove enclosed within a separatetubular shell in non-rotatable relation therewith.

2. In a dispenser for cosmetic creams, pastes and the like, thecombination of a relatively stationary base having an upwardly extendingoval bore o-pen at its upper end; an oval carrier slidably mounted foraxial movement within the bore and adapted to discharge cosmetic creamor paste through the open end of said bore; means for advancing thecarrier axially of the bore, said means including a tubular postextending axially of the carrier and provided with a laterallyprojecting cam follower; a sleeve assembly encircling the tubular post;means including a rotary actuator adapted to rotate said sleeveassembly, the sleeve assembly including an axially split inner sleevehaving a helical cam groove enclosed within a separate tubular shell innon-rotatable relation.

3. Apparatus for advancing a carrier axially Within a cosmeticdispenser, comprising in combination: a plurality of telescoping rotarysleeve assemblies each having an axially split cam sleeve provided witha helical groove closed at its ends and a tubular shell enclosing thesplit cam sleeve; means for maintaining each pair of sleeves and shellsin assembled relation comprising a projection on one extending into arecess formed on the other; the helical groove on the innermost splitcam sleeve being adapted to receive a cam follower element on thecarrier, and a laterally projecting cam follower element on at least oneof the enclosing shells adapted to be received within the helical camgroove of an encircling split cam sleeve; and a rotary actuator xedrelative to the outermost sleeve assembly.

4. In a dispenser for creams, pastes and the like, the combination of abase provided with aligned axial bores, a first of the bores being openat its upper end, the base having a shoulder at the junction of saidbores, a carrier mounted for axial sliding movement within the firstbore and shaped to conform thereto, advancing means for sliding thecarrier axially of the rst bore, said advancing means including acylindrical extension on the carrier, a plurality of telescoping sleeve-assemblies mounted coaxially of the carrier extension, helical screwmeans connecting adjacent sleeve assemblies in rotatable relation andconnecting the innermost sleeve assembly to the carrier extension, theoutermost sleeve assembly being journaled for rotation within the secondof the bores and having a ange at its upper end engaging the shoulder,the second bore terminating in an abutment, an actuator knob engagingthe abutment and having a central opening telescopically receiving aportion of the outermost sleeve assembly in driving relation.

5. In a cosmetic dispenser the combination of a base having an upwardlyextending casing provided with a central noncircular bore open at itsupper end, a noncircular carrier mounted for sliding movement in saidnoncircular bore, the base having a housing portion of greater widththan thickness, the housing having a cylindrical recess open at thelower end thereof positioned in coaxial relationship with saidnoncircular bore and having a diameter larger than the thickness of thehousing to define access windows on opposite sides thereof, the housinghaving a cylindrical bore extending coaxially between the noncircularbore and the recess, a cylindrical sleeve journaled in said cylindricalbore and projecting downward into said recess, a rotary actuator knobinsertable axially into the lower open end of the recess and having acentral opening for receiving the sleeve in driving engagement, screwmeans operatively connecting the sleeve and the carrier to advance thecarrier in the noncircular bore upon rotation of the actuator knob, theouter periphery of the knob being slidably received within the recess toprevent lateral bending forces from being applied to said sleeve.

WALTON B. CRANE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,899,748 Cornell, Jr Feb. 28,1933 1,994,074 Kendall Mar, 12, 1935 2,072,662 Abbotts Mar. 2, 19372,302,473 Reichenbach Nov. 17, 1942 2,360,350 Kirk-Schneider Oct. 17,1944 2,395,710 Anderson Feb. 26, 1946 2,491,723 Gelardin Dec. 20, 19492,491,724 Gelardin Dec. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date592,398 France Apr. 30, 1925 600,103 France Nov. 3, 1925 636,147 FranceJan. 7, 1928 728,208 France Apr. 11, 1932

